TDS Desk:

A Dhaka court has ordered the transfer of a sedition case filed against ousted Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and 285 others to the Dhaka Metropolitan Sessions Judge’s Court as the case is now ready for trial.

The case was lodged over allegations of participating in anti-state activities and conspiring to overthrow the interim government by joining a Zoom meeting of ‘Joy Bangla Brigade’.

Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate Ishrat Jenifar Zerin passed the order on Tuesday after completion of all preparatory procedures for trial.

The case has a total of 286 accused, including Sheikh Hasina, of whom 258 remain absconding.

On 14 October, the court ordered publication of notices in newspapers asking the fugitives, including Sheikh Hasina, to appear before the court. Later, three more accused were shown arrested in the case.

According to the case statement, on 19 December, 2024, a virtual meeting titled “Joy Bangla Brigade” was held, where participants allegedly vowed to wage a civil war to reinstall fugitive Sheikh Hasina as the country’s Prime Minister.

The CID investigation found that the online meeting, hosted by US Awami League leader Dr Rabbi Alam, contained discussions that aimed to resist the lawful government and incited rebellion against the state.

Upon receiving the Home Ministry’s approval, CID ASP Md Enamul Haque filed the sedition case against Sheikh Hasina and 72 others with the court on March 27, 2025.

Later, under Section 196 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC), he was assigned to investigate the case.

After investigation, the CID officer submitted a charge sheet on August 14 against 286 individuals, including Sheikh Hasina. The court accepted the charge sheet and issued arrest warrants against all accused.